Lion-one of the largest animals on earth cat family. This a formidable predator can be to know on proud posture, lush mane. In the past they lived in large areas of Eurasia, but today they are found in the wild in the African Savannah and one reserve in India.
History
Historical fact:
- Lions were often depicted on medieval coats of arms. Nowadays, his image is on the coat of arms of the Czech Republic. In Ukraine, the image of this cat is on the coat of arms of the city of Lviv, which is named after Prince Leo (son of Daniel Galician).
- In the beginning of our era, the lions lived in Europe, but gradually these animals were exterminated. The Greeks and Romans often hunted these animals, which lived on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula. Herodotus wrote that predators in 480 BC attacked the camels of the Persian king Xerxes I. Aristotle in 300 BC wrote that lions are rare animals. The last European lion was killed in the year 100 of our era.
- The ancient cave lion lived in Eurasia (including Ukraine and Russia) until the end of the ice age and became extinct 10 thousand years ago. However, it is possible that the European Lions that lived on the Balkan Peninsula before the turn of our era, were cave lions that survived in Europe and were exterminated by Roman hunters.
- European cave lions were depicted in drawings in caves found in France and Germany. Predators were depicted without manes (perhaps they were maneless or with small manes), but with characteristic strands of hair on the tail.
- Lions to the IV century BC lived on the territory of Ukraine. They hunted in the marshes of the sea of Azov. It is believed that the last animal was killed by one of the Bosporan kings while hunting.
- There are mentions that the last lion was killed in the steppes of Ukraine by Prince Yaroslav the Wise, but it is unlikely that these predators lived up to such a late time. Although we can talk about the Caucasian lion, who lived up to the Tenth century and could well appear in the lands of Tmutarakan Principality, of course, if there Yaroslav the Wise hunted.
- The number of lions and their habitat in recent centuries has declined sharply. In Palestine, lions were destroyed in the Middle ages, until the end of the XIX century, they were destroyed in Turkey and Northern India. Lions lived in Iran until 1944. Outside Africa, lions live only in India, on the territory of the Mountain forest, there are more than 300 individuals.
- The Barbary lion, which lived in North Africa, became extinct in the wild. However, several dozen individuals are kept in zoos. Animals plan to settle in the Atlas mountains in Morocco and thus return to the nature of these beautiful predators.
External appearance
Interesting facts about lions-appearance:
- The lioness has two to four children. Newborn lion cubs weigh about 2 kg, with a mottled color of the skin. Later, the spots disappear, and the baby's skin will become the usual sandy color. To see are beginning on 9 – 11 day, and on 15 day the cub becomes on hoisted and tries to move freely.
- The lions distinguish smells as the nose, and using the "tube Jacobson". It is located at the top of the sky. When a predator explores a certain scent, it opens its mouth and sucks in air.
- The adult male weighs around 250 kg and the female's weight reaches 180 pounds. However, this significant weight animal lose agility, mobility and speed.
- Lions have claws 7-9 cm long. Claws are no less dangerous than teeth.
- The number of teeth in an adult is 30. But predators do not chew food, and swallow large chunks.
Behavior
Interesting facts from the life of Lviv:
- Most often lions gather in prides, consisting of several the males and female mates. But meet and lions-loners.
- In exceptional cases lions attack even on elephant.
- According to statistics, only one of the five cubs survives to the age of two.
- Lions often fight each other to the death if they have to defend their territory.
- In the pride on witch more often go lionesses, lion dormant in this time. Females bring production in the pride, and lion of course the first is embarking on meal. Leo is considered stronger than the lionesses, his duty is protection of the pride in case of attack from other predators.
- The lion consumes about 30 kg of meat at a time.
- Develops speeds up to 60 km / h, but only for short distances.
- Of course lions hunt at night, but daytime hunting is not uncommon.
- The roar of an adult lion can be heard at a distance of 8 km.Interestingly, lions do not know how to roar until 2 years.
- Lions love to sleep, like all the cat family. Males sleep about 20 hours a day, females-less, because they need to take care of the cubs and hunt.
- On among African predators are on the second place after spotted hyenas.
- Lions often attack people. In Tanzania, about 70 people die each year. Mortality under attacks predators very great — with 8 attacks death on statistics comes in 6 cases.
- Life expectancy lions on nature-accounts for 10-14 years, in captivity lions can to live more 20 years.